Sanitary panty or the like

ABSTRACT

A sanitary panty-catamenial pad combination for use in absorbing human menstrual flow consists of a body garment having waist and leg openings and an aperture in the crotch area covered by a flap; the aperture receiving a suitable projection provided on the back of a catamenial pad to retain the pad in place.

United States Patent [1 1 [111 3,768,481

Shibata Oct. 30, 1973 [54] SANITARY PANTY OR THE LIKE 2,985,170 5/1961 Title l28/288 3,580,252 5/1971 D610" 128/288 [761 lnvemm 3,636,953 1 1972 Benevento 128/288 Kamishima-cho, Kadoma City,

Osaka, Japan Primary ExaminerCharles F. Rosenbaum Flledi p 4, 1972 Attorney-Donald A. Gardiner, Jr. et al. [21] Appl. No.: 241,002

[57] ABSTRACT g 128/288 A sanitary panty-catamenial pad combination for use [58] Fie'ld 288 289 in absorbing human menstrual flow consists of a body 128/290 garment having waist and leg openings and an aperture in the crotch area covered by a flap; the aperture [56] References Cited receiving a suitable projection provided on the back of a catamenial pad to retain the pad in place. UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,494,292 111950 Frazer 128/288 7 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures SANITARY PANTY OR THE LIKE BACKGROUND Body garments for use by the human female during the period of menstrual flow are well known. Such garments generally comprise a bifurcated, panty type of garment suitably modified to receive some type of absorbent pad in the crotch area such that when the garment is worn the absorbent pad is positioned over the vulva area to receive menstrual flow. Usually such garments are provided with tabs or pins adapted to be fastened to the absorbent pad to prevent its dislodgement or movement out of its effective position due to normal movements of the wearer.

In some cases the construction of the garment is such that the pad is disposed in a pocket area formed to receive the absorbent pad.

In either case, such garments, commonly known as sanitary panties, are possessed by inherent disadvantages. In the first-mentioned construction the tabs or pins involve bulkiness which may be uncomfortable and as well quite unsightly where the panties are worn under close-fitting outer garments such as shorts or slacks.

In the second-mentioned construction there is a definite tendency. for the absorbent pad to slip out of position due to normal motions of the wearer. This results in considerable discomfort to the wearer and, as well, the pad may not perform its intended function of absorbing menstrual flow with obvious embarrassment to the wearer.

THE INVENTION The present invention, then deals with the provision of a sanitary panty devoid of the defects found in prior garments.

Accordingly, an object of the invention is to provide a sanitary panty garment which may be worn without embarrassment beneath any type of outer garment.

Another object of the invention is to produce a sanitary panty which receives and holds an absorbent pad in place at all times.

Still a further object of the invention is to produce a sanitary panty absorbent pad combination which may be easily used by the wearer and in which the pad may be renewed at will.

An additional object of the invention is to produce a sanitary panty and absorbent pad combination wherein the pad is securely retained in place without the use of pins or locking tabs of conventional form.

These and other objects of the invention not specifically alluded to but inherent in the subject matter may be accomplished by a bifurcated garment of panty form, having a waist opening and leg openings, a crotch area between the leg openings, said crotch area being provided with a small opening adapted to be positioned in the area of the vulva of a human female, a cover overlying said opening and an absorbent pad disposed interiorly of the garment in the crotch area, said pad having a projection on the outer surface thereof for registration with the aperture in the crotch area of the garment.

The invention will be more clearly understood from a consideration of the following detailed description; reference being made to the drawings accompanying same and wherein FIG. 1 is a front view ofa sanitary panty garment with an absorbent pad implaced therein,

FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. I but with the absorbent pad removed and the cover drawn away to show the aperture means for retaining a pad in proper posi tion, while, finally FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an absorbent pad configured for use with the panty shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

As clearly shown in FIG. 1 the sanitary panty garment 1 is of the usual bifurcated type having a waistband 10 and front andrear panels 12 and 14 and leg openings 16 and 18 as is conventional. The front and rear panels are joined between the leg openings to define a crotch portion 2 which extends between the legs of the wearer. The overall garment may be of any conventional construction and any conventional material such as cotton, nylon, etc. Preferably, but not necessarily, the material may have some degree of elasticity so that one size of garment will fit feminine forms of varying size. Even more importantly, an elasticized garment will fit the loin area of the human female quite snugly so that no wrinkles or ridges are created such as would be apparent under close-fitting outer garments.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the crotch portion 2 of the panty garment is provided with a small aperture 3. This aperture is so located that when the garment is worn in normal fashion, the aperture is disposed generally centrally over the vulva area of the female form.

Overlying the aperture 3 is a flap or cover 4 which may be affixed to the crotch area 2 of the garment by any suitable means such as stitching or the like. As shown, the cover or flap is adhered at its edges to the garment along three of its four sides and is also positioned as to overlie the aperture 3. As shown in FIG. 2

the flap or cover may be pushed back manually to one side to provide access to the aperture 3 externally of the garment for reasons as will be apparent hereinafter.

It should be also noted that while the flap or cover is side opening, i.e. access to aperture 3 is obtained by pushing the cover back from left to right as shown in FIG. 2, this structural detail may be varied so that the cover may be pushed back from the top or opposite side so long as three edges are securely adhered to the garment proper.

Considering now, FIG. 3, it may be seen that the catamenial pad for use with the sanitary panty is of a generally rectangular configuration and of such dimensions as to restcomfortably against the human form in the pubic area. The pad is comprised of a bodyengaging inner cushion 5 made of conventional absorbent cotton or the like and treated as is known in the art to prevent disintegration due to absorbed moisture. The outer side of the absorbent pad 5 is provided with a slight projection 7 and isfurther provided with a moisture-proof coating 6 such as polyvinyl chloride film. The film serves two purposes; first, to prevent menstrual liquids from passing completely through the pad 5; and secondly, it serves to stabilize the shape of the pad and the projection 7.

Again, considering FIG. 1, it may be seen that the fluid-receiving pad 5 is positioned interiorly of the panty garment in the crotch area. The projection 7 is inserted through the aperture 3 to assure proper positioning of the pad within the garment and to retain the pad in that position despite the normal body motions of the wearer. The cover 7 overlies the projection 7 and enhances the appearance of the panties while at the same time it may be pushed aside to facilitate removal and insertion of the projection 7 in aperture 3 when it is necessary to renew the absorbent pad 5 as during the normal menstrual flow period of the human female. Further, the pad can be removed and replaced at will to permit laundering of the panty garment as may be appropriate.

As stated, it is anticipated that the panty garment will be formed of an appropriate material having some elastic properties to assure a smooth fit of the garment about the loins of the wearer. Additionally, however, the elasticity of the garment will provide some tension within the material at the crotch area 2 so that the projection 7 of pad 5 is securely seated in and through aperture 3 at all times, thus assuring that the pad will not be dislodged from its proper position within the panty garment 10.

It will be apparent that various modifications will occur to those skilled in the art, all of which are within the purview of the appended claims, wherein:

What is claimed is:

1. In combination, a sanitary panty garment and absorbent catamenial pad comprising a bifurcated loin encircling garment having waist and leg openings and a crotch area between the leg openings, said crotch area having an aperture therein adapted to overlie the vulva area of the human female; a displaceable cover overlying said crotch area and the aperture therein; a catamenial pad, said pad being disposed interiorly of the loin encircling garment in the crotch area and being comprised of an absorbent cushion having a projection on one surface thereof for insertion into the said opening and being covered by said cover whereby said pad is retained in position within the garment.

2. The combination defined in claim 1, wherein said bifurcated loin encircling garment is made from elasticized material.

3. The combination defined in claim 1, wherein said cover is a separate piece of material adhered to at least three edges of the loin encircling garment and centrally located over the crotch area thereof and the aperture therein.

4. The combination as defined in claim 1, wherein said catamenial pad is provided with a moistureresistant coating on the side thereof having said projection.

5. For use in a sanitary panty garment, a catamenial pad having a moisture-absorbent cushion, one surface of said cushion being provided with a centrally-located projection extending outwardly therefrom and a moisture-resistant coating overlying said one surface and said projection.

6. A catamenial pad as defined in claim 5, wherein said pad is generally rectangular in configuration and said projection is located centrally of said surface.

7. A catamenial pad as defined in claim 5, wherein said moisture-resistant coating is polyvinyl chloride. 

1. In combination, a sanitary panty garment and absorbent catamenial pad comprising a bifurcated loin encircling garment having waist and leg openings and a crotch area between the leg openings, said crotch area having an aperture therein adapted to overlie the vulva area of the human female; a displaceable cover overlying said crotch area and the aperture therein; a catamenial pad, said pad being disposed interiorly of the loin encircling garment in the crotch area and being comprised of an absorbent cushion having a projection on one surface thereof for insertion into the said opening and being covered by said cover whereby said pad is retained in position within the garment.
 2. The combination defined in claim 1, wherein said bifurcated loin encircling garment is made from elasticized material.
 3. The combination defined in claim 1, wherein said cover is a separate piece of material adhered to at least three edges of the loin encircling garment and centrally located over the crotch area thereof and the aperture therein.
 4. The combination as defined in claim 1, wherein said catamenial pad is provided with a moisture-resistant coating on the side thereof having said projection.
 5. For use in a sanitary panty garment, a catamenial pad having a moisture-absorbent cushion, one surface of said cushion being provided with a centrally-located projection extending outwardly therefrom and a moisture-resistant coating overlying said one surface and said projection.
 6. A catamenial pad as defined in claim 5, wherein said pad is generally rectangular in configuration and said projection is located centrally of said surface.
 7. A catamenial pad as defined in claim 5, wherein said moisture-resistant coating is polyvinyl chloride. 